, or democrats, they're americans. and instead of being beholden to grover norquist, and the aarp, they're beholden to the united states of america. those guys are going to take their lumps. >> alan simpson, do you think there's going to be a deal? >> well, my friend erskine, the numbers guys, he does the numbers and i do the color, when he says he doesn't think we're going to get a deal -- let me tell you, he's working every day. he's here. i have to get the morning plane out of cody at 6:00 a.m., get here at 3:30, he's here within an hour and a half away, he sees these people, the president, jack lew, knows these people, he's the last guy on earth that balanced the budget in '96 and when he's down on this, you got to be sure that this guy, this wonderful savvy and intelligent, sharp guy, a perfect companion, is saying this stuff, you want to believe it. that's the sad part. >> do you think this would discourage him from wanting to be considered for treasury secretary? his name has been in the mix? >> well, he said he would be very pleased to do that. he shared that with me personally,